Goblin
General Description
On average, goblins stand between 3′4″ - 3′8″ (1 - 1.1 m) tall and weigh an average of 40 - 55 lb (18 - 25 kg). They have flat faces with sloped foreheads, broad noses, pointed ears, and small, sharp fangs. Their eyes vary in color from red to yellow, while their skin ranges from yellow to deep red or green. It's worth noting that members of the same tribe almost always share the same skin tones. Goblins typically wear dark leathers, which are usually soiled due to their poor hygiene. These leathers match the color range of their skin.Personality
Goblins, like other goblinoids, are known for having a short temper, making them more easily provoked than most other races. This trait can be difficult for them to overcome, and their sense of greed often makes it challenging for them to act altruistically. Moreover, goblins often take sadistic pleasure in exacting revenge once they feel crossed. From a young age, goblins are taught to rely only on themselves and to be aggressive and ruthless in order to survive. They view preemptively removing potential rivals as logical and necessary. However, not all goblins are dim-witted or evil, despite their generally poor reputation. Some have gained enough renown and respect to be accepted into the civilized world of other, more commonly good races. Overcoming their temper and greed, as well as the cultural influence of their brethren, can be a challenge for those seeking this path, but those who do often find it more rewarding in the long run to serve good rather than evil. These goblins often utilize their talents as rogues or fighters.Combat
The goblin's experience with being bullied by stronger creatures has taught them to exploit their few advantages, which are their sheer numbers and malicious ingenuity. They favor ambushes, overwhelming odds, dirty tricks, and any other edges they can devise, believing the concept of a fair fight is meaningless in their society. Goblins are an elusive and nimble race, allowing them to slip away from danger more easily than most. In combat, they use this advantage to sneak up on enemies and deal a surprise blow from hiding, slipping away before they can be retaliated against. When they have superior numbers in battle, goblins attempt to flank lone combatants. If they are outmatched, their general response is to retreat or surrender. Goblins are known to fight with military picks, morningstars, short swords, slings, and spears.Society
The goblin society is tribal and is typically led by the strongest and most cunning among them, who often have the best weapons. Leaders are known to use betrayal and aggression to come into power or may become clerics of goblin gods. Due to their violent nature, goblins can come under the control of larger and more powerful cultures, especially hobgoblins or bugbears. Goblins live communally and have little concept of privacy, with only the leaders having their own private chambers. Consequently, goblin lairs are usually filthy, but easy to defend and booby-trapped. The most crowded and fortified areas of goblin lairs are typically located in the innermost chambers. Despite the gender roles where males dominate and sustain the community through raiding and stealing, goblin females are expected to bear children to maintain the population, which is often threatened by violence. Many female goblins flee the community due to the constrained role they're expected to play. Goblin settlements often have young goblin children, but they don't outnumber adults since their lives are equally hazardous. Goblin tribes sometimes capture slaves to perform hard labor in their lairs or camps, while others attack and loot travelers in forests and on roads.Biology
Goblins breed rapidly, accounting for their large population. They are also able to change and adapt to almost any climate, eventually mutating into new versions of their former selves. The most noteable and studied are the woodland based creatures known as boneheart goblins, named so after distinct patterns found on their ribcages. There have been been numerous sightings of clans living in the mountains, the cold wastelands, deserts and even at sea on remote islands all varying slightly from the tradiitional goblin form.Boneheart Goblin
These goblins have made certain forests their home and are masters of their terrain. They rely on taming woodland animals to provide additional strength and speed in battle and a large pack can be formiddable even to the most seasoned warriors.
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